Cash register



June 28, 1938 I L. G. A. KOMMLING' 7 CASH REGISTER Filed Aug. 20, 1935 ISmqe'ntor Leo G. A. Kiimmling His Cttorneg Patented June 28, 1938 PATENTOFFICE CASH REGISTER Leo G. A. Kiimmling, Berlin, Germany, assignor toThe National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation ofMaryland Application August 20,

1935, Serial No. 37,067

In Germany August 30,1934

11 Claims.

This invention relates to cash registers and the like, but'is moreparticularly directed to the impression mechanisms of such machines.

Generally it is an object of this invention fig to devise novel means tocontrol the impression mechanisms of cash'registers and like machines. Amore specific object is to provide means to varythe number of workingstrokes of the impression mechanism depending uponthe type of recordmaterial being used.

Another object is to provide a machine, having' a single impressionmeans adapted to perform'a varying number of printing strokes to, makeimprints upon difierent types of record material. with means togovernthe number of printing strokes of said impression means to s'uitthe type of record material being used.

A further-object is to supply an impression device, adapted to make twoimpressions upon 9 one type of record material and one impression uponanother type of record material, with controlling means cooperating withone type of record material to'- govern the printing movements of saidimpression device. v With these and. incidental objects in view, theinvention includescertain novel features of construction andcombinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth inappended claims and a preferred form or embodiment of 3Q which ishereinafter described withreference to 'the drawing which accompanies.and forms a partof this specification: r I Inthe drawing:

;Fig. l is a side elevation, as observed from the lefthand side of the.machine, showing the impression mechanism and the controlling meanstherefor.

General description The machine embodying the present inven tion hasmechanism consisting of a single line 45 of type carriersand a singlehammer cooperating therewith, adapted to print either upon an I issuingreceipt or upon an insertable slip. The issuing receipt has a detachablestub, consequently it is desirable to make two identical im- 50pressions upon. said receipt, one upon the body thereof and 'oneupon thedetachable stub. The double printing upon the issuing receipt iseffected by imparting two impression strokes to the hammer each machineoperation; said receipt be- :55 ing fed during the interval between;impression Fig. 2 is a detail view of the impression hamstrokes of thehammer to present different portions thereof to the impression means.

In slip printing operations, the slip is inserted in a suitablereceptacle or slip chute, provided therefor and moved in the path of aslip feeler mechanism to obstruct movement of said feeler which by meansof connecting mechanism prevents the second impression stroke of thehammer, thereby allowing only one impression tobe made upon theinsertable slip.

A manipulative device with, two positions, namely check and slip rendersthe feeler mechanism inoperative-when in check position andsimultaneously causes a closure to obstruct the slip chute to preventthe insertion of slips therein. Moving the manipulative device to slipposition opens the closure to the slip chute and Referring to Figs. 1and 2, the machine of this invention has a plurality of type wheels Illrotatably mounted on a shaft H supported by the printer framework notshown, said type wheels being positioned in adding operations by meansof depressible amount keys (not shown) and in total taking operations bymeans of a series of totalizer wheels (not shown) as they are returnedto zero. An impression hammer l2, turnably mounted on a shaft [3supported by the main framework of the machine, carries a platen block Mwhich in cooperation with the type wheels l0 and an inking ribbon (notshown) makes imprints either upon an issuing check or receipt or upon aninsertable slip.

The hammer I2 is actuated by means of lobes liand N3, of a hammeroperating cam IT, in cooperationwith a roller l8 carried by a lever I9journaled on a stationary stud 2B. The lever 19 carries a stud 2|, whichis urged by a comparatively weak spring 22, tensioned between said lever19 and the hammer l2, into contact with a rearwardly disposed surface ofsaid ham mer l2. A comparatively strong spring 23, one end of which isconnected to the lever I9, urges said lever counterclockwise to maintainthe roller la. in contact with the peripheryof the cam H. The cam I1 issecured on the shaft l3 and moves in unison therewith one clockwiserevolution each machine operation.

When the machine is at rest and the cam I1 is in home position, as hereshown, a high portion 24 of the periphery thereof is in contact with theroller 18 and retains the hammer retracted as here shown. Due to thecontour of the cam fulcrumed on a stationary stud 3i.

I? rotation thereof during machine operation causes the hammer l2 tomove slowly counterclockwise under the influence of the lever l9 and thespring 23. Continued rotation of the cam l1 causes the lobe E5 incooperation with the roller i8 to rock the lever l9 clockwise, thehammer [2 moving in unison therewith under influence of the spring 22 inpreparation for the first impression blow. When the roller i8 rides offof the abrupt edge of the lobe i5 the'spring 23 imparts sharpcounterclockwise movement to the lever I9 and the hammer l2. Thiscounterclockwise movement of the lever I9 is suddenly terminated, bymeans of the roller !8 contacting a low surface of the periphery of thecam i'i, just before the platen 14 moves the inking ribbon and therecord material into contact with the type wheels, however, momentum ofthe hammer I2 is sufficient to complete the impression stroke regardlessof the spring 22. The lobe l6 effects a second impression blow of thehammer in exactly the same manner as the lobe i5.

Control of the impression hammer in slip printing operations As statedpreviously, it is desirable that only one imprint be mad-e upon theinsertable slip, and this is accomplished by means of a feeler mechanismwhich prevents the second impression stroke of the hammer when a slip isinserted in the machine, and prevents both strokes of the hammer when noslip is inserted in the machine. The feeler mechanism for controllingthe impression strokes of the hammer will now be described in detail.

The insertable slips are presented to and located in relation to theprinting mechanism by means of a slip chute 25 (Fig. 1) supportedbetween the frames of the printer mechanism and having an aperture 26,in a case or cabinet 21, which encloses the mechanism of the machine,for the introduction of said insertable slips. The top and bottom platesof the slip chute 25 each has a matched opening 28 arranged toregisterwith the upper end of a slip feeler 29 mounted for vertical slidingmovement by means of vertical slots therein in cooperation with twostationary studs 35 secured in the printer framework.

The feeler 29 has a horizontal slot 3! which embraces a stud 32 in acrank 33 secured on a shaft 34 journaled in the printer framework. Alsosecured on the shaft 34 is a crank 35 which is pivotally connected toone arm of a bell crank 35 The other arm of the bell crank 36 carries astud 38 which extends within a slot in one end of a link 39, the otherend of which link is pivotally connected to an arm 40 loose on a shaft4! supported by the main framework and integral with a similar arm 52.The arm 42 carries a roller 43 which is urged by a spring 44, the upperend of which is connected to the fulcrum point between the cranks 35 and3 5, into communication with the periphery of a cam 45 secured on ashaft 46, said cam and said shaft making one counterclockwise rotationeach machine operation. The spring 44 through the crank 35, shaft 34 andcrank 33, urges the feeler 29 upwardly.

Printer control lever Whether or not the feeler mechanism is effectivedepends upon the position of a printer control lever 47 (Fig. 1)fulcrumed on a stud 43 secured in one of the machine frames. The lever47 has a suitable fingerpiece which extends through an aperture in thecabinet 21. The lever 4'! has two positions, namely, check, in which itis here shown, and slip, indicated by dot and dash lines,and is retainedin either of its positions by means of two V-shaped notches therein incooperation with the rounded nose of a retaining pawl 49 pivoted on astud 50 and urged into communication with said V-shaped notches by aspring 51!.

The printer control lever 47 has therein a camming slot 52 whichcooperates with a roller 53 carried by an arm 54 secured to one end of asleeve 55 rotatably supported by a shaft 56 journaled in the machineframework. Secured on the other end of the sleeve 55 is an arm 51 with astud 58 embraced by an angular slot 59 in an arm 69 secured on a shaft6! journaled in the printer framework. Also secured on the shaft 5% isan arm 62 with a bent-over ear 63 which cooperates with a shoulder 64 ofthe feeler 29.

When the lever 47 is in check position, as here shown, the train ofmechanism described above positions the arm 62 so that the bent-over ear63 in cooperation with the shoulder 64 pre vents upward movement of thefeeler 29, under influence of the spring 44, when a lobe 65 of the cam45 moves out of the path of the roller 43 at the beginning of machineoperation. It is therefore evident that when the lever 4'! is in checkposition the feeler mechanism is rendered inoperative and the hammer I2is free to make twoimpression strokes to make two identi cal imprintsupon the issuing check. Likewise when the printer control lever 4! is incheck position a closure 66 secured on the shaft BI is so positionedthat a-curved portion 61 thereof, which coincides with a slot in thebottom plate of the slip chute 25, closes the opening to said slip chute25, thus preventing the insertion of slips at this time. It should behere noted that the curved portion 6? 'of the closure 66 does not extendcompletely across the slip chute, but only so far as is necessary toprevent the insertion of slips. This enables the machine to issue checksduring check printing operations when the curved portion of the closuremember is in effective position.

Lever 4?, through mechanism which forms no part ofthe instant invention,controls the operation of the check feeding rollers 80. When thisleveris moved into slip position, it causes the eccentric mounting 8! for thelower roller 80 to be actuated to move the lower roller from contactwith the upper roller and accordingly disables the check feeding rollersin slip printing. Further details of the mechanism for controlling thecheck feed rollers may be found in the United States application forLetters Patent, Serial No. 734,537, filed July 10, 1934, by KurtVogelgesang and Erich Wagner.

Moving the lever 4'! clockwise to slip position by means of the slot 52in cooperation with the roller 53 rocks thearm 54, the sleeve 55 and arm5i counterclockwise. Counterclockwise movement of the arm 51 by means ofthe stud 53 incooperation with the slot 59 rocks the arm til, the shaft5! and the arm 62 clockwise to dis: engage the car 63 from the shoulder54 to render the slip feeler mechanism effective. Obviously the closure'36 moves clockwise in unison with the shaft 6! to the. positionindicated by dot and dash lines to remove the curved portion 61 thereoffrom the opening of the slip chute 25 topermit the insertion ofslipstherein.

The operation of the impression hammer I2 arm H secured on the shaft 34.

(Fig.2) is governed by a detent 68, loose on the shaft 34, which ispositioned by the slip feeler mechanism. The detent 68 has a concentricslot/69, which cooperates'with a stud Til in an A spring l2 forms aflexible connection between the arm H and the detent 68 and urges thedetent 68 clockwise to normally maintain the left end of the slot 69 incontact with the stud HI, as here shown.

Slip printing operations In slip printing operations, operating themachine with a" slip improperly inserted in the chute 25, (Figs. 1 and2) or with no slip inserted in the 5; chute 25, permits the feeler 29to'move full distance upwardly, under influence of the spring 44', when,the lobe 65 of the cam 45 moves beyond the roller 43. This. permits fullcounterclockwise movement of the shaft 34 and the arm H and causes saidarm 'H'to carry the detent 68 counterclockwise in unison therewith, tothe position indicated byldotted lines, to move a shoulder 13 thereof inthe path of a right-angled extension 14 of one arm of the hammer 12, to

obstruct impression movement of said hammer under influence of; the camearlier herein. 5

An example of a slip printing operation with the slip properly insertedin the chute will IT, as explained now be given. The contour of the camI? (Fig.

2) is such that initial movement of said cam in cooperation with theroller IS, the lever l9, and

the stud 2|, rocks the hammer I2 a suiiicient distance counterclockwiseto move a roller '15 5 carried thereby into the, path of an extension 16of the detent .68. This occurs before the lobe 65 of the cam .45 movesbeyond the roller 43 and consequently movement counterclockwise of thedetent 68, arm H and the shaft and the upward feeling movement of thefeeler 29, under influence of the springM, are obstructed and theseparts are retained in their ineffective positions as here shown, whilethe hammer l2 moves slowly upwardly under influence of the cam 5?.

When the lobe [5 of the cam i! retracts the, hammer It, in preparationfor the first impression stroke, the roller 15 moves beyond theextension 16 permitting the spring 44 to move the feeler 29 upwardlyuntil such movement is stopped by the slip contacting thetop plate ofthe chute 25. This rotates the shaft M a slight dis tancecounterclockwise to move the detent $8 to the position indicated by'dot.and dash lines.

During the first imprinting stroke of the ham mer I2, caused by the lobe[5 of the cam ll moving beyond the roller t8, the roller 15 engages theextension 15 and moves: the detent 63 independently ofthe arm H and theshaft 3 in a counterclockwise direction from the position indicated bydot and dash lines to the position cause the extension M has movedbeyond the shoulder 73 before the detent B8 is fully moved to effectiveposition. .Retraction of the hammer The detent 68 does not'interferewith thesecond imprinting stroke, causes the extenby the lobe E6 of thecam IT in preparation'for' sion '14 to by-pass the shoulder 1'3 and thespring 4'4 immediately returns said shoulder into the path of theextension 14. Obviously this blocks the second imprinting stroke of thehammer I2 when the lobe I6 of the cam I1 rides off the roller Mend it istherefore clear that only one imprint will be made upon the insertableslip.

Near the end of machine operation the lobe 65 of the cam 45 (Fig. 1) incooperation with the roller 43 and connecting mechanism impartsclockwise movement to the shaft 34 to return the feeler 29 downwardly toineffective position, as

here shown. The arm H and the spring 12 cause the detent 68 to moveclockwise in unison with the shaft 3% until an upward extension of thepawl ll engages a static-nary stud 19 to disena gage said pawl from thestep I8, thus permitting the spring '12 to impart relative movement tosaid detent B8, to restore it to normal position, as here shown, whichposition is determined by means of the slot 69 in cooperation with thestud 10. Furtlrer explanation of operation is deemed unnecessary as itis believed that a thorough understanding of the functioning of theimpression mechanism will have been obtained from a perusal of theforegoing specifications.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirablyadapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understoodthat it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form orembodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment invarious forms all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a printing device adapted to print optionally upon a check orslip, the combination of an impression hammer; means to impart twoimpression strokes to the hammer each machine operation; and means,rendered effective by the sow hammer during its first impression strokein 'a slip printing operation, to prevent the second im pression strokeof said hammer.

2. In a machine of the character described, having a printing deviceadapted to make avaryimpression hammer; means to impart two imprcssionstrokes to the hammer each machine operation; a member to block thesecond impression stroke of the hammer; and meanson the hammer,cooperable with the member during the first impression stroke of thehammer, to move the member to effective position to block the secondimpression stroke of the hammer.

3. In a machine of the class described, adapted to make one imprint uponan insertable slip, and a plurality of imprints upon an issuing check,the combination of a receptacle for the slip; a

feeler device associated with the receptacle and the slip; an impressionhammer; means to iming number of imprints, the combination of an parttwo impression strokes to the hammer each machine operation; and amember controlledby' the feeler device and operated by the hammer duringits first impression stroke to prevent the second impression stroke ofsaid hammer. T

4. In a machine of the character described,

adapted to make a varying number of imprints depending upon the type ofrecord material, issuing check or insertable slip, being used, thecombination ofa receptacle for the slip; a feeler device associated withthe receptacle; manipulative means torender the feeler device operativeor'inoperative; an impression hammer; means. to

impart two impression strokes to the hammer each machine operation;means controlled by the feeler device to render the impression meansinoperative when a slip is not in the chute, and to prevent secondimpression movement of the hammer when a slip is inserted in the chute.

5. In a machine of the class described adapted to make a varying numberof imprints upon an issuing check and upon an insertable slip, thecombination of an impression hammer; means to impart two impressionstrokes to the hammer each machine operation; a receptacle for the slip;a feeler mechanism associated with the receptacle and the slip; a shaftcontrolled by the feeler mechanism; a member on the shaft adapted to bemoved in unison therewith to prevent operation of the impression meansduring a slip printing operation when no slip is inserted in thereceptacle; and means to move the member relatively to the shaft toprevent the second impression stroke of the hammer when a slip isinserted in the receptacle.

6. In a machine of the class described, adapted to make a differentnumber of imprints upon an issuing check and upon an insertable slip,the combination of a receptacle for the slip; a feeler device associatedwith the receptacle; means to operate the feeler device; manipulativemeans to render the feeler device operative or inoperative; animpression hammer; means toimpart two impression strokes to the hammereach machine operation; a shaft controlled by the feeler device; amember on the shaft adapted to be moved in unison therewith to preventoperation of the impression means during a slip printing operation whenno slip is inserted in the receptacle; and means to move the memberrelatively to the shaft to prevent the second impression stroke of thehammer when a slip is inserted in the receptacle.

7. In a machine of the character described, having a printing mechanismincluding a plurality of type carriers and adapted to make a differentnumber of imprints upon an issuing check and upon an insertable sliprespectively, the combination of an impression hammer associated withthe type carriers; means to impart two'imprinting strokes to the hammereach I machine operation; a receptacle for the insertable connecting theelement to the member, where-' upon positioning of the shaft and theelement under the control of the feeler, when no slip is in the chute,moves the member in unison with said shaft to prevent the hammer frommaking an impression stroke; and means whereby the hammer moves themember relatively to the element and the shaft to prevent the secondimpression stroke of said hammer when a slip is inserted in the chute.

8. In a machine of the class described, having a printing mechanismincluding a plurality of type carriers and adaptedv to make a pluralityof imprints upon an issuing check and one imprint upon an insertableslip, the combination of an impression hammer adapted to cooperate withthe type carriers; means to impart two imprinting strokes to the hammereach machine operation; a slip chute to guide the slip to the printingmechanism; a feeler device associated with the chute; a shaft controlledby the feeler device and arranged to be located thereby in one positionwhen no slip is in the chute, and arranged to be located by said feelermechanism in another position when a slip is in the chute; an elementarranged to move in unison with the shaft; a member flexibly connectedto the element and adapted to control the imprinting strokes of thehammer, whereupon movement of the shaft to' one position causes themember to block imprinting movement of the hammer when no slip is in thechute; and means rendered effective, when the shaft occupies its otherposition, to move the member relatively to said shaft to block thesecond impression stroke of the hammer when a slip is inserted in thechute.

9. In a machine of the class described having a printing mechanismincluding a plurality of type wheels, adapted to make imprints uponrecord material, the combination of an impression hammer cooperatingwith the type wheels; means to impart two working strokes to the hammereach machine operation; a feeling means; a shaft; an element on theshaft; a member flexibly connected to the element and arranged tocontrol the impression strokes of the hammer; means controlled by saidfeeling means to impart a certain degree of movement to the shaft, themember and the element, to cause the member to block impression movementof the hammer, said imparting means also adapted to be controlled bysaid feeling means to impart another degree of movement to the shaft,the member and the element; and means effective after the member hasreceived the latter degree of movement to move said member relatively tothe element and the shaft to block the second impression stroke of thehammer.

10. In a machine of the character described having a printing mechanismincluding a plurality of type wheels adapted to make imprints uponrecord material, the combination of an impression hammer associated withthe type wheels; means to impart two working strokes to the hammer eachmachine operation; a member tocontrol the impression strokes of thehammer; means on the hammer effective during the first working strokethereof to move the member to effective position to prevent the secondimpression stroke of the hammer; and means to move the member intocooperative alinement with the moving means on the hammer.

11. In a machine of the character described having a printing deviceincluding a plurality of type wheels adapted to make imprints uponrecord material, the combination of an impression hammer associated withthe type wheels; means to impart two working strokes to the hammer eachmachine operation; an element to control the impression strokes of thehammer; a projection on the hammer adapted to cooperate with theelement; means including a feeler device to move the element intocooperative alinement with the projection, whereupon thefirstiinpression stroke of the hammer moves the element to effectiveposition to prevent the second working stroke thereof; and means toretain the element in eifective position until near the end of a machineoperation.

LEO G. A. KOMMLING.

